Stop the cough

Being out in the cold and inhaling dust particles can expose you to cough. Identifying irritants and taking preventive measures are important, Rita Ohai reports

COUGH is an ailment that runs rampant among many around this time of the year. With the increase in dust particles in the air, it is often common place to find young and old hacking away in discomfort due to this illness.

Even though a cough is usually regarded as a mild health disturbance, it is most times an indication that the body is fighting a serious infection which goes undetected until it reaches an advanced stage.

Giving insight on this health condition, Dr. Chioma Obiakor said, “Usually, coughing is a reflex action that shows there is a foreign object or particle in the lungs of the patient. It is actually one of the body’s defence mechanisms against things like dust, liquid or other kinds of particles from entering the lungs such that the lungs constrict and force air out so that the disturbance can be expelled.

“On average, a patient should not cough for more than three weeks at the maximum. If a person keeps coughing much longer than this time frame, it could be a sign that either the cough is not being properly managed or the cough is a symptom of a much more complicated illness that the patient and doctor do not know about,” she concluded.

While the patient battles with the illness, medical practitioners say that it is important to be vigilant in order to identify the relevant causes and avoid them as a preventive measure in future.

According to a World Health Organisation report, over 133,000 Nigerians die annually from cough-related diseases.

Revealing some of the contributory factors of cough, Dr. Bisoye Ayoola stated, “Most patients who have a common cold come down with a cough because the body is trying to get rid of the excess mucous lining the lungs. The mucous could be a reaction to too many irritants in the air the person is breathing which can cause an infection. It may also be due to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection which can be found in pneumonia, bronchitis or whooping cough patients.”

Highlighting symptoms of severe respiratory diseases to watch out for if the cough persists for too long, she further stated, “If a person who is suffering from a respiratory irritation or cough notices that the phlegm or mucous has a strange colour or it is blood-stained and foul smelling, when there is a presence of chest pain, wheezing, sudden weight loss and even fever, it is time to go to the nearest hospital for a sound check up because you might be carrying a communicable disease like tuberculosis or a non-communicable one like asthma.”

Steps to healing

COLD and harmarttan seasons bring on hacking coughs that can leave your chest aching. But these are not the only problems that cause coughing. Allergies, asthma, acid reflux, dry air, and smoking are common causes of coughs.

Most of the time, cough can be brought under control by applying some of these simple home remedies;

1. Stay Hydrated

Drinking fluids helps to thin out the mucus in the chest and keep mucous membranes moist. This is particularly helpful this harmattan season when the air tends to be dry. Sipping warm tea with honey can also soothe the throat.

2. Take-in Steam

A hot shower can help a cough by loosening secretions in the nose. This steamy strategy can help ease coughs not only from colds, but also from allergies and asthma.

Inhaling steam helps flush out mucus, and it moisturises dry, irritated air passageways. Fill a cooking pot one-quarter full with water. Boil, turn off the heat, and if available, add a couple drops essential oil of eucalyptus or a scoop of Mentholatum.

Carefully remove the pot from the stove, and place it on a protected counter or table. Drape a towel over your head, lean over the pot, and breathe gently for 10 to 15 minutes. Don’t stick your face too far into the pot or you’ll get a poached nose.

In a dry home, nasal secretions can become uncomfortable. Putting moisture back in the air can help your cough, but be careful not to overdo it. The downside is if you don’t clean out your shower, air conditioner or humidifier they become reservoirs for pumping out fungus and mold into the air and bacteria.

3. Remove Irritants in the Air

Perfumes and scented bathroom sprays may seem harmless, but they can cause chronic sinus irritation. This leads to chronic cough because of the production of excess mucus.

The worst irritant in the air, of course, is smoke. Almost all smokers eventually develop the “smoker’s cough.” Everyone around the smoker may suffer from some airway irritation.

Home remedies in your cupboard

THE common cough can be harmless, but it can also signify a more serious illness. Learn more about the reasons why we cough and how to treat it with a few simple home remedies.

Raw honey and lemon for sore throats

A mixture of fresh lemon juice and raw honey provides soothing relief for sore throats and helps stop the tickle that stimulates coughing. Raw honey with all its components including royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen is high in nutrients and enzymes which kill bacteria and viruses. The vitamin C and antioxidants found in fresh lemons boost the immune system, speeding healing. Together these two home remedies are a powerhouse for getting over a cold and sore throat. Mix the juice of 1/2 the lemon with 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey and sip throughout the day as needed.

Garlic.

Some experts advise that to reap garlic’s full cold- and flu-fighting benefits, you have to eat it raw. Yet swallowing 4 to 8 raw garlic cloves a day, which is the recommended amount, is hard for most people to stomach. Cheat a little by mixing the cloves into plain yogurt or putting fresh pieces in your soup can help. It is essential for the garlic to be eaten raw because heat damages the active ingredients in it.

Pepper.

Pepper is a bit of an irritant but this characteristic is a plus for those suffering from coughs accompanied by thick mucus. The irritating property of pepper stimulates circulation and the flow of mucus in the airways and sinuses.

Salt.

A saltwater gargle is a simple solution to a cough, although you have to remain devoted to gargling to get results. Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt into 4 ounces warm water. Mix and gargle. Repeat this every one to two hours each day for best results. The salt, combined with soothing warm water, acts as an astringent to help ease irritated and inflamed throat tissues and loosen mucus.